Best laptop as a server?

Live TV & DVR
1

I’m very new to Plex. My goal is to use an OTA antenna connected to the HD home run tuner and use my ROKU with the Plex app to record and watch shows. I need a laptop to act as the server over my home network. I will only use this laptop for Plex. What laptop would be best for this type of use?
Thanks!

2

Are you using the term “laptop” as a synonym for “PC”?
Because an actual laptop is not quite ideal as a Plex server:

  • only limited room for extending the internal storage
  • the cooling system is not suited to handle extended periods of maximum CPU load
  • connectivity for external storage is limited as well (and error-prone, due to wires going off the laptops on 2 – 3 sides)
  • laptops usually use under-clocked electronics, to save power and take off load from the cooling system. That is not what you want if you have a lot of media which need converting/transcoding. And with Live TV in Plex you quite often will need transcoding.
3

Thank you. What are some options to run Plex for use with live TV and recordings? My home computer is not powerful enough and when not in use it is in sleep mode and Plex server shows disconnected.
Thanks!

4

That’s expected.

How did you find out?
What kind of CPU (precise type, please) is in your current computer?

https://support.plex.tv/articles/201774043-what-kind-of-cpu-do-i-need-for-my-server/

You could use a mini computer like an Intel NUC, for instance, if you have a storage server (NAS) already.

If the NAS is rather powerful, it could also run Plex directly, but those options are not exactly cheap. https://support.plex.tv/articles/201373823-nas-devices-and-limitations/

Or you buy or build a PC, customized for the task of Plex server:

  • big(ger) case to house enough hard drives
  • powerful CPU to be able to transcode
  • big cooler and matching fan to achieve silent cooling
5

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